[himom]

Ouch. Sounds like a failed state scenario: anarchy by services disappearing and unconcern for community. When a government ceases to provide a fundamental function, such as protecting its citizens, it risks irrelevancy... and citizens better form their own government to replace the one not doing its job, or they’re inviting criminal thugs reminiscent of ISIS to fill the power-vacuum.

[zolthrowaway]

Many political philosophies believe THE fundamental purpose of government is to protect. Not performing the reason why people accept government in the first place means that the government has failed to do the reason it was created. It's not a legitimate government.

Your post and example is right on the money. This is incredibly scary and seems to be happening more and more as governments aren't allocating funds to do critical functions.

[bilbo0s]

Problem is, the "...people ... form[ing] their own government to replace the one not doing its job..." usually ARE the ISIS-like thugs.

This is one of the great aporias of civic discord.

[forapurpose]

> failed state scenario ... criminal thugs reminiscent of ISIS

In Las Vegas? Really?